U.S. patent application number 15/229337 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-08 for wearable nfc device for secure data interaction.
The applicant listed for this patent is Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, LLC. Invention is credited to Ian J. FORSTER.
Application Number | 20180041859 15/229337 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59772693 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180041859 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FORSTER; Ian J. |
February 8, 2018 |
Wearable NFC Device For Secure Data Interaction
Abstract
A method and apparatus for near field communications. Exemplary
embodiments can include a near field communication (NFC) device.
The NFC device may have a wristband housing an NFC device, the
wristband fitting around a wrist of a wearer, the NFC device having
a secure state and an active state; and one or more sensors
disposed in the wristband, the one or more sensors sensing a state
of at least one of the wrist of the wearer and a hand of the
wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of the wrist of the
wearer and the hand of the wearer changes the state of the NFC
device between a secure state and an active state.
Inventors: |
FORSTER; Ian J.; (Essex,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, LLC |
Westborough |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59772693 |
Appl. No.: |
15/229337 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 5/0031 20130101;
G06K 7/10257 20130101; H04B 5/0043 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201;
G06Q 20/352 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/00 20060101
H04W004/00; G06K 7/10 20060101 G06K007/10; H04B 5/00 20060101
H04B005/00 |
Claims
1. A near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: a wristband
housing an NFC device, the wristband fitting around a wrist of a
wearer, the NFC device having a secure state and an active state;
and one or more sensors disposed in the wristband, the one or more
sensors sensing a state of at least one of the wrist of the wearer
and a hand of the wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of
the wrist of the wearer and the hand of the wearer changes the
state of the NFC device between a secure state and an active
state.
2. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the sensor is an optical sensor.
3. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the sensor is a capacitive sensor.
4. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the sensor detects physical parameters of the wearer of the NFC
device.
5. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the secure state of the NFC device disconnects the NFC device from
an antenna of the NFC device.
6. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the secure state of the NFC device allows for transmission of
identity information.
7. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the secure state of the NFC device provides a randomly generated
number associated with user information.
8. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the active state of the NFC device provides near field
communication capabilities to the NFC device.
9. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the active state of the NFC device provides Wi-Fi communication
capabilities to the NFC device.
10. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the active state of the NFC device provides Bluetooth capabilities
to the NFC device.
11. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, wherein
the detected state of the at least one of the wrist of the wearer
and the hand of the wearer is an articulated state of the hand with
respect to the wrist.
12. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 1, further
comprising a display.
13. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 12, further
comprising optical symbology displayed on the display.
14. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 11, wherein
the secure state of the NFC display comprises concealing
information on the display.
15. The near field communication (NFC) device of claim 14, wherein
the active state of the NFC display comprises unconcealing
information on the display.
16. A method of transitioning an NFC device between states,
comprising: disposing an NFC device on a wrist of a wearer; sensing
a position of the wrist of the wearer and a hand of the wearer
located next to the wrist of the wearer; providing the NFC device
in a first state when the wrist of the wearer is in a relaxed
position; and providing the NFC device in a second state when the
hand of the wearer is in an articulated position with respect to
the wrist of the wearer.
17. The method of transitioning an NFC device between states of
claim 16, wherein the first state is a secure state of the NFC
device and the second state is an active state of the NFC
device.
18. The method of transitioning an NFC device between states of
claim 16, wherein the first state conceals information on a display
of the NFC device and the second state unconcealed information on
the display of the NFC device.
19. The method of transitioning an NFC device between states of
claim 18, further comprising disposing a component of the display
over a wrist joint of the wearer.
20. A near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: a piece of
jewelry housing an NFC device, the jewelry designed to be worn on
at least one of a hand, wrist, and fingers of a wearer of the NFC
device, the NFC device having a secure state and an active state;
and one or more sensors disposed in the piece of jewelry, the one
or more sensors sensing a state of at least one of the wrist, hand,
and fingers of the wearer with respect to at least one of the
wrist, hand, and fingers of the wearer, wherein the state of the at
least one of the wrist, hand, and fingers of the wearer changes the
state of the NFC device between a secure state and an active state.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, including
near field communication (NFC) enabled RFID devices, are utilized
for a variety of purposes. Often such devices are formed as tags or
labels and can be utilized to associate an object with an
identification code or other data, such as website data. Such RFID
devices may be passive and, upon receiving a signal, such as an
excitation signal from an RFID or NFC-enabled reader, may be
energized. The devices can then respond with a desired
communication or provide information associated with a product,
item or service associated with the RFID device.
[0002] Specifically, NFC is a data exchange protocol designed to
allow devices, including suitably equipped mobile phones and
wearable tokens, to interact with infrastructures, such as other
mobile or personal computing devices, point of sale terminals,
ticket gates on transportation systems, or RFID devices in the
forms of "smart posters" or "touchpoints", for example. In such
situations, bringing an NFC enabled device into proximity of such
infrastructure or RFID devices can cause the transmission of data
to the NFC enabled device, resulting in, for example, the opening
of a web page, the acceptance of a media stream via Bluetooth or
any of a number of other functions.
[0003] There are, however, concerns and problems with the use of
such NFC devices and, in particular, wearable NFC devices used for
access control and payments. One known problem is unauthorized or
undesired access of payment or identity information through the use
of scanners located or carried proximately to an NFC device. Such
unauthorized or undesired scans are performed by criminals,
retailers, and other parties seeking to obtain information from a
variety of sources. Such unauthorized or undesired scans are
possible because of the near-constant "on" or open state of typical
NFC devices. Having a user actively activate or deactivate an NFC
device, however, is cumbersome, slow, and inefficient, as well as
impractical for providing desired security.
SUMMARY
[0004] A method and apparatus for near field communications.
Exemplary embodiments can include a near field communication (NFC)
device. The NFC device may have a wristband housing an NFC device,
the wristband fitting around a wrist of a wearer, the NFC device
having a secure state and an active state; and one or more sensors
disposed in the wristband, the one or more sensors sensing a state
of at least one of the wrist of the wearer and a hand of the
wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of the wrist of the
wearer and the hand of the wearer changes the state of the NFC
device between a secure state and an active state.
[0005] In another exemplary embodiment, a method of transitioning
an NFC device between states may be described. The method of
transitioning an NFC device between states may include disposing an
NFC device on a wrist of a wearer; sensing a position of the wrist
of the wearer and a hand of the wearer located next to the wrist of
the wearer; providing the NFC device in a first state when the
wrist of the wearer is in a relaxed position; and providing the NFC
device in a second state when the hand of the wearer IS III an
articulated position with respect to the wrist of the wearer.
[0006] In still another exemplary embodiment, a NFC device may be
described. The NFC device may have a piece of jewelry housing an
NFC device, the jewelry designed to be worn on at least one of a
hand, wrist, and fingers of a wearer of the NFC device, the NFC
device having a secure state and an active state; and one or more
sensors disposed in the piece of jewelry, the one or more sensors
sensing a state of at least one of the wrist, hand, and fingers of
the wearer with respect to at least one of the wrist, hand, and
fingers of the wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of the
wrist, hand, and fingers of the wearer changes the state of the NFC
device between a secure state and an active state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary
embodiments. The following detailed description should be
considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in
which:
[0008] FIG. 1a is an exemplary diagram of an NFC device on a wrist
of a wearer in a relaxed position.
[0009] FIG. 1b is an exemplary diagram of an NFC device on a wrist
of a wearer in an articulated position.
[0010] FIG. 2a is an exemplary diagram of an NFC device on a finger
of a wearer where the fingers are substantially close together.
[0011] FIG. 2b is an exemplary diagram of an NFC device on a finger
of a wearer where the fingers are substantially spread apart.
[0012] FIG. 3a is an exemplary diagram of an NFC device with an
optical symbology element on a wrist of a wearer in a relaxed
position and with the optical symbology element in an obscured
state.
[0013] FIG. 3b is an exemplary diagram of an NFC device with an
optical symbology element on a wrist of a wearer in an articulated
position and with the optical symbology element in a viewable
state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following
description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments
of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the
invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as
not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to
facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of
several terms used herein follows.
[0015] As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an
example, instance or illustration." The embodiments described
herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should
be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to
be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
Moreover, the terms "embodiments of the invention", "embodiments"
or "invention" do not require that all embodiments of the invention
include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
[0016] Generally referring to FIGS. 1a-3b, various NFC devices and
exemplary modes of operation may be shown and described. The NFC
devices may be worn on the arm, wrist, hand, or finger of a wearer.
The NFC devices may generally be in a secure state during regular
wearing or use. However, the NFC devices may be activated or put
into an open state upon a certain predetermined movement or
articulation by the wearer. Such NFC devices and their activation
capabilities may provide for additional desired security of the NFC
devices and may be utilized to prevent unauthorized or undesired
access to the data housed or shared on the NFC devices.
[0017] Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 1a and 1b, an NFC device
102 may be worn, mounted on, or coupled to a wrist 104 of a wearer.
The NFC device 102 may be any type of NFC device, for example a
wristband, watch, or any other type of NFC device. Further, NFC
device 102 may be worn in any desired fashion and may be coupled to
the arm, wrist, or hand of the wearer in any known manner, for
example by a coupling, clasp, or any other desired fashion. The NFC
device may function in a known fashion to provide near field
communications. It may be appreciated, in other exemplary
embodiments, that the NFC device 102 may be any type of
communication device, for example a radio frequency identification
device (RFID) and the like.
[0018] In exemplary FIG. 1a, the wrist 104 and hand 106 of a user
may be seen in a relaxed, or unarticulated position. In this
position, the NFC device 102 may be in a first state, which is a
secured or substantially secure state where only limited data is
shared or the unit is disabled. For example, when the wearer of the
NFC device 102 has their arm or wrist in this position, the NFC
device 102 may not send or receive any data. In this state the NFC
device 102 may be disconnected from its antenna or otherwise
inhibited from operation; the NFC device 102 may be active, but may
not provide any data pertaining to a transaction, for example only
providing simply identity information; or the NFC device 102 may
provide a random number with a limited so, so that a unique
individual can be tracked for a period of time, such as a few hours
or when otherwise logged into a system, without the identity of an
individual being known. Such a position of the arm or wrist 106 of
the user may allow for the free wearing of NFC device 102 without
any threat of unauthorized or undesired by an outside scanner,
whether the outside scanner is a retailer, a point of sale scanner,
a criminal illicitly attempting to obtain data, or any other
scanner, outside source, or outside party.
[0019] In exemplary FIG. 1b, the NFC device 102 is again shown on
wrist 104 of a wearer. However, in exemplary FIG. 1b, hand 106 is
angled or articulated in an upward position. The articulation of
hand 106 may allow for NFC device 102 to be in a second state,
which may be an open state, activated state, or otherwise a state
where NFC device 102 is set to a transmission mode or mode that
activates any desired features of the NFC device 102. For example,
in this mode, data may be transmitted from NFC device 102, payments
may be made using NFC device 102, identification verification can
be made through NFC device 102, or any other features of NFC device
102 may be activated or enabled, or, in other words, NFC device 102
can have its full functionality. In some exemplary embodiments,
when a wearer positions their hand 106 and wrist 104 in the
position shown in exemplary FIG. 1b, the wearer of NFC device 102
may make payments at a point of sale terminal or identify the
wearer with appropriate information. Additionally, it should be
understood that a wearer of NFC device 102 may transition the NFC
device 102 between secure and active states at any desired time by
performing the appropriate or desired movement of wrist 104 and/or
hand 106. Additionally, in still further exemplary embodiments, it
can be appreciated that such movements may be utilized to enable or
allow for any other desired feature of NFC device 102. For example,
a wearer of NFC device 102 may allow for the activation or
deactivation of Bluetooth capabilities or Wi-Fi capabilities.
[0020] Still referring to exemplary FIGS. 1a and 1b, NFC device 102
may be switched between a first state (secure) and a second state
(active) through movement of the hand 106, wrist 104, and/or arm of
a wearer. Various components may be utilized in NFC device 102 in
order to allow it to switch states. In some exemplary embodiments,
an optical sensor may be utilized on NFC device 102. The optical
sensor may be mounted on a top or front portion of NFC device 102
and may point towards the hand 106 of the wearer. Thus, in FIG. 1a
the optical sensor of NFC device 102 may not detect the hand 106,
leaving NFC device 102 in a secure state. However, as shown in
exemplary FIG. 1b, the optical sensor of NFC device 102 may detect
hand 106 as it would be positioned in the plane of detection of the
optical sensor. In another exemplary embodiment, a capacitive
sensor on NFC device 102 could detect a change in capacitance
between the NFC device 102 on wrist 104 and hand 106 when a wearer
of NFC device 102 bends their wrist 104 or exerts strain or muscle
movement, or any other detectable physical parameter, at the
location where NFC device 102 IS worn. In such exemplary
embodiments, it is appreciated that different movements of wrist
104 and/or hand 106, different muscle movements under NFC device
102, or any other different physical exertion may be utilized as an
event to switch NFC device 102 from a secure state to an active
state. As discussed in more detail below, such detection
possibilities may be predetermined and stored in NFC device 102 or
may be set according to any desire of a user or wearer of NFC
device 102.
[0021] As shown in exemplary FIG. 1b, hand 106 is shown in an
upward position. It may be appreciated that this position of hand
106 with respect to wrist 104 may be a position that is not a
customary position for hand 106 and wrist 104 of a wearer of NFC
device 102. For example, it would be unusual for a wearer of NFC
device 102 to have his or her hand 106 and wrist 104 in the
position shown in FIG. 1b when at rest. This may be desirable as it
can allow the wearer of NFC device 102 to only activate NFC device
102 at desired times without the risk, or with only a limited risk
of undesired or unnecessary activation. It may be appreciated,
however, that NFC device 102 may be such that it can be activated
based on any set or predetermined movement of wrist 104 and hand
106, or any combination of movements. Such movements for the
activation of NFC device 102 may be preset or predetermined in NFC
device 102 or may be set according to the preferences of the user
or wearer and stored with NFC device 102.
[0022] Exemplary FIGS. 2a and 2b provide another exemplary
embodiment of an NFC device 202. In this example, NFC device 202
may be another type of worn article, such as a ring or any other
finger-worn structure or piece of jewelry. NFC device 202 may be
worn on any finger or fingers 204 of hand 206. As in previous
exemplary embodiments, NFC device 202 may have two states, a secure
state and an active state, substantially similar to those described
above with respect to exemplary FIGS. 1a and 1b. However, in this
exemplary embodiment, NFC device 202 may change states based on
movements of a finger or fingers 204 on hand 206.
[0023] In exemplary FIG. 2a, the fingers 204 of hand 206 are in a
relaxed and relatively close position. In this position, NFC device
202 may be in a secure state. In exemplary FIG. 2b, fingers 204 are
in a deliberately spread apart position, which can allow for the
transitioning of NFC device 202 from the secure state in FIG. 2a to
an active state in FIG. 2b. As in the other previously-described
exemplary embodiments, it may be appreciated that the changing of
states of NFC device 202 may be accomplished through the spreading
or closing of fingers 204, or may be accomplished through any other
predetermined or user-determined movement of a finger or fingers
204, as desired.
[0024] Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 3a and 3b, another
embodiment may have a wearable device 302 with an optical symbology
304 displayed on device 302. Device 302 may be any type of device,
for example a wristband-type NFC device, similar to those described
in above exemplary embodiments. Additionally, device 302 may have
component 303 that is disposed over a wrist 308 of a wearer.
Component 303 may be a label or sensor, as desired. Additionally,
in some exemplary embodiments component 303 may be a sensor, in
other exemplary embodiments, component 303 may include a display or
may otherwise display any information described herein. Optical
symbology 304 may be displayed in any fashion, for example for
example on an active or static display, or any other known method
on device 302. Optical symbology may be any type of symbology, for
example a 1D or 2D code. Additionally, optical symbology 304 may
convey any desired information, such as identity information.
[0025] In exemplary FIG. 3a, optical symbology 302 may have an
array of information 306 that is concealed. Information 306 may be
any type of information, as discussed above. When the wrist 308 and
hand 310 of wearer of device 302 are in a relaxed position, stress
on device 302 may be such that the information 306 is concealed,
hidden, distorted, illegible, or otherwise indecipherable. This may
be effectively similar to the secure states and positions described
with respect to previous exemplary embodiments.
[0026] Referring now to exemplary FIG. 3b, information 306 may now
be readable after the wrist 308 and hand 310 of the wearer of
device 302 are moved so that hand 310 is in an upward position and
flexing or displacing component 303, similar to the active state
described with respect to some exemplary embodiments previously.
Stress may be exerted on device 302 or component 303 through the
movement of wrist 308, hand 310, a joint there between, or muscle
position or activation below device 302. The optical symbology 304
information 306 may become readable or legible as a result of a
variety of factors or conditions. For example, one method of making
information 306 readable could include stretching a plastic film
over optical symbology 304 and altering its effect on the
polarization of light. This can change the shape of a lenticular-
or prism-based optical covering. Thus, when the wrist 308 and/or
hand 310 move, information 306 may go from concealed in FIG. 3a to
legible in FIG. 3b. In still another exemplary embodiment, a
piezoelectric film may be disposed over device 302, for example
over optical symbology 304. The piezoelectric film may generate a
charge that changes the state of a liquid crystal shutter on device
302, which could then render information 306 as legible or
readable. Similar to previous exemplary embodiments, any desired
movements or positions could be utilized to enact the concealing or
revealing of information 306.
[0027] The foregoing description and accompanying figures
illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of
operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be
construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed
above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
[0028] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it
should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *